ENS Founders Academy

From early to late stage, the actionable playbook for startups on tech, scaling and investment from the partners who make it happen

Learn. Build. Validate. Scale. Exit.

ENS Founders Academy bridges the gap between learning and execution.

Powered by the global startup ecosystem of Expand North Star, the Academy connects founders with experienced operators, investors, unicorn builders, ecosystem leaders, and growth experts who have built, funded, and scaled high-growth companies.

Through two specialised Labs, founders gain practical frameworks, market insights, investor perspectives, peer learning, and actionable strategies designed to support every stage of the startup journey.

GTM Lab

Build it. Take it to market. Build the community around it.

The GTM Lab takes founders through three critical parts of the building journey — developing the right product, finding a route to market, and creating the community that can help turn early momentum into lasting growth.

Across three days, founders will learn from builders, operators and industry experts through practical conversations designed around the realities of launching and growing a startup.

Day 01

Country Spotlight

Your next market could be closer than you think.

Go inside selected startup ecosystems and discover the markets creating new opportunities for founders.

Explore local market dynamics, business opportunities, ecosystem advantages and what founders need to understand when considering their next market.

Day 02

Go To Market

Turn a great product into real traction.

Having the right product isn't enough — founders need a clear path to customers.

Explore the strategies behind positioning, customer acquisition, market entry, sales and building a go-to-market approach that can evolve as your startup grows.

Day 03

Community & Builders

Build more than a customer base.

The strongest startups don't grow alone.

Discover how founders can build communities around their products, connect with builders and early adopters, create advocates and use community as a powerful engine for feedback, loyalty and growth.

Expansion Lab

Find your next market. Understand the opportunity. Expand what’s possible.

Growth looks different in every market.

The Expansion Lab gives founders a closer look at new markets, emerging economies and breakthrough opportunities shaping the next generation of companies.

Across three days, founders will hear from people building within these ecosystems and gain practical perspectives on where new opportunities are emerging — and how to approach them.

Day 01

Country Spotlight

Your next market could be closer than you think.

Go inside selected startup ecosystems and discover the markets creating new opportunities for founders.

Explore local market dynamics, business opportunities, ecosystem advantages and what founders need to understand when considering their next market.

Day 02

Creator Economy & Arabic Content

Build for the next generation of digital audiences.

Explore the growing opportunity around creators, digital communities and Arabic-first content.

Discover how new platforms, business models and technologies are changing the way audiences create, consume and engage with content — and where founders can build within this evolving economy.

Day 03

Breakthrough Spotlights

Meet the ideas pushing industries forward.

A spotlight on emerging technologies, new business models and founders challenging how industries work.

Discover breakthrough ideas with the potential to create new categories, unlock new markets and shape what comes next.